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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 08/10/2026

CM SAF’s new climate anomaly products on German TV! On “alle wetter!”, Christine Träger-Chatterjee from @eumetsat.int used a SARAH-3 map to explain September’s sunshine duration anomalies and introduced the CAN service. Explore the maps: can.eumetsat.int

can.eumetsat.int

EUMETSAT | Climate Anomalies and Normals Service

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 07/10/2026

CM SAF’s SARAH-3 surface solar radiation data contribute to this @eumetsat.int analysis of possible links between El Niño and European climate. The analysis finds that July–September conditions across much of Europe were, on average, warmer, sunnier and drier during the selected El Niño years.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 07/10/2026

Albedo describes how much sunlight a surface reflects. Darker sea ice absorbs more solar energy. CLARA-A3 contributed albedo observations to the review; a CM SAF scientist co-authored it. Antarctic changes vary more by region and year, with gaps in on-site observations limiting understanding.

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 06/10/2026

The MeteoSwiss blog explains the findings and how satellite observations support drought and vegetation monitoring (in German): www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/ueber-uns/me...

meteoschweiz.admin.ch

Hitzesommer im Blick der Satelliten: Rekordhohe Landtemperatur - MeteoSchweiz

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 06/10/2026

CM SAF satellite data show that Switzerland averaged around 480 hours with land surface temperatures ≥27.8°C in summer 2026, which is over four times the 1991–2020 average. These are surface, not air temperatures. More in the MeteoSwiss blog linked below.

27.8°C marks the 95th percentile of hourly summer land surface temperatures across Switzerland in 1991–2020.
Colors show the number of hours per month at or above this threshold.
Land surface temperature is distinct from air temperature.

Figure: MeteoSwiss · Data: CM SAF

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 30/09/2026

Climate monitoring needs consistent observations across satellite generations. Within the SAF network, CM SAF turns satellite measurements into long-term records of clouds, radiation and precipitation, supporting climate research, model evaluation and solar-energy planning.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 25/09/2026

Looking ahead, Salomon Eliasson showed how CLARA-A3.5 will combine AVHRR and VIIRS observations. Adding VIIRS improves afternoon coverage and sampling across the daily cycle, helping sustain the long-term cloud and radiation record as the satellite constellation evolves.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 25/09/2026

Examples from the week: CLARA-A3 helped to investigate Arctic changes in albedo, radiation and sea-ice melt. The new GEO-Ring demonstrator provides cloud and radiation observations to help assessing how climate models capture regional patterns and the daily cycle.

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 25/09/2026

A few impressions from #EMSC2026 in Darmstadt! CM SAF contributions explored what long-term satellite records reveal about our changing climate and how we sustain and improve these observations. Thanks to everyone who presented, asked questions and shared ideas!

EUMETSAT Director-General Phil Evans on the main stage during the opening session of the EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference in Darmstadt. Photo: Thomas Sikorski

Exterior view of the Darmstadtium conference centre in Darmstadt, the venue for the EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference 2026. Photo: Thomas Sikorski

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Five geostationary satellites provide near-global observations to help assess how climate models represent clouds and radiation across space and time. This demonstrator is not yet comprehensively validated; known limitations are documented. Surface products are planned for October.

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New CM SAF GEO-Ring data: cloud and top-of-atmosphere radiation products for 2021 are now available! Today at #EMSC2026: Jan Fokke Meirink presents the work. 🕚 11:45–12:00 · Session 2.A 📍 Room 2.02+2.03 www.cmsaf.eu/demo_isccpng

$Two maps from the CM SAF GEO-Ring ISCCP-NG Demonstrator showing cloud fraction and reflected solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere. Cloud fraction describes the proportion of an area covered by clouds; reflected solar radiation describes sunlight returned to space by the Earth–atmosphere system. The maps illustrate the near-global coverage obtained by combining observations from five geostationary satellites. The demonstrator dataset covers 2021.$

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CLARA-A3 reveals Arctic albedo and radiation trends over 1982–2020. In the Fram Strait, exceptionally early sea-ice melt onset is associated with more clouds over open water and fewer over sea ice; exceptionally late onset shows the reverse. Research into the mechanisms continues.

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 22/09/2026

What can satellites tell us about Arctic climate change? Today at #EMSC2026: Abhay Devasthale on CLARA-A3, Arctic trends and sea-ice melt. 🕛 12:00–12:15 · Room 2.02+2.03 One of six CM SAF-related contributions across today’s Climate Data Records sessions 2.A and 2.C.

“A changing Arctic”: seasonal trends from the CM SAF CLARA-A3 climate data record. A grid of 32 Arctic maps has eight columns, April to November, and four rows: surface albedo, total top-of-atmosphere flux, reflected shortwave flux and outgoing longwave radiation. Blue indicates negative trends and red positive trends. Surface albedo and reflected shortwave radiation show widespread decreases during summer. Outgoing longwave radiation shows increases across much of the central Arctic in spring and autumn. Total top-of-atmosphere flux shows contrasting seasonal patterns, with predominantly negative trends in summer and positive trends in spring and autumn. Each row has its own colour scale. White areas cannot be interpreted without the original figure’s masking information.

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Some cloud properties rely on reflected sunlight and are unavailable at night. Using CM SAF GEO-Ring data, the team tests neural networks to estimate them. An initial multilayer perceptron shows promising results and serves as a baseline for further development.

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 22/09/2026

Can neural networks help to retrieve cloud properties at night? Explore our ISCCP-NG GEO-Ring research at #EMSC2026. 📍 Today, 22 September | Tuesday Poster Session Spectrum B–C, Copernicium Poster 257 | Presented by Jan Fokke Meirink

Scientific poster: “Nighttime Retrieval of ISCCP-NG Cloud Optical and Microphysical Properties using Neural Networks” by Nikos Benas, Jan Fokke Meirink, Martin Stengel and Salomon Eliasson.

The study explores how neural networks can estimate cloud optical thickness and effective particle radius at night, when methods relying on reflected sunlight are unavailable. It uses CM SAF’s ISCCP-NG GEO-Ring demonstration dataset, covering 2021 at 30-minute intervals.

An initial multilayer perceptron is trained using daytime infrared brightness temperatures and corresponding cloud retrievals. It produces meaningful results but lacks spatial and temporal context, serving as a baseline for further development. Computations use the European Weather Cloud; future evaluation will include independent observations from active sensors.

Poster 257, EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference 2026. Presented by Jan Fokke Meirink.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 18/09/2026

Meet CM SAF at @eumetsat.int conference in Darmstadt, 21–25 September! Explore satellite climate data records, their applications and climate services. See our slides for selected talks and posters. Come discuss your data needs! www.eumetsat.int/eumetsat-met...

Title slide: CM SAF at the EUMETSAT conference 2026, including an example map showing the SARAH-4 beta solar radiation data merged for the Geo-Ring data.

Highlight presentations of the Wednesday session on climate data records with contribution of CM SAF and CM SAF data.

A selection of other contributions with connection to CM SAF and application of CM SAF data.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 09/09/2026

📍 Wed, 9 Sep | 12:45-13:00 CEST | Room Expedition 🔗 doi.org/10.5194/ems2... 📍 Thu, 10 Sep | 16:30-18:00 CEST | TransitZone, P36 🔗 doi.org/10.5194/ems2...

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 09/09/2026

Two opportunities to meet CM SAF science at #EMS: Wed 12:45: Uwe Pfeifroth presents the latest developments towards the new SARAH-4 surface solar radiation climate data record. Thu 16:30: SARAH-3 & CLARA-A3 feature in the GEBA poster on quality control of long-term surface radiation observations.

Announcement of CM SAF contributions at the EMS 2026 in Utrecht. Shown are the titel of the SARAH-4 presentation and the GEBA poster.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 08/09/2026

The stronger radiation signal does not mean a stronger El Niño, but reflects a more pronounced atmospheric response.

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 08/09/2026

The El Niño-related radiation pattern strengthened further in August. CLARA-A3 shows a pronounced negative surface radiation anomaly across the Niño 3.4 region and strong positive anomalies over Indonesia, the Philippines and New Guinea, exceeding the August 2015 pattern.

CLARA-A3 surface solar radiation anomalies over the tropical Pacific for August 2015 (top) and August 2026 (bottom). Blue areas indicate below-average and red areas above-average surface radiation relative to the 1991–2020 reference period. In August 2026, a pronounced negative anomaly is visible across the Niño 3.4 region, while strong positive anomalies occur over Indonesia, the Philippines and New Guinea. The overall pattern is more pronounced than in August 2015.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 07/09/2026

EUMETSAT’s CAN service offers interactive access to satellite-based climate normals and anomalies. CM SAF contributes SARAH-3 solar radiation (SIS) and sunshine duration (SDU) anomalies, available from 1991 and updated monthly. Operational CM SAF release is planned soon. can.eumetsat.int

Screenshot of the EUMETSAT Climate Anomalies and Normals service showing the SARAH-3 sunshine duration (SDU) anomaly for July 2026. Colours indicate from red to blue areas with above- and below-average sunshine duration relative to the 1991-2020 reference period.

Screenshot: EUMETSAT Climate Anomalies and Normals (CAN) service; SARAH-3 data: EUMETSAT CM SAF. © EUMETSAT 2026.

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 28/08/2026

Congratulations to @eumetsat.int and everyone involved! 🎉 FCI is already part of CM SAF climate monitoring: the GIRAFE v1 precipitation ICDR has transitioned from SEVIRI to FCI, and future CLAAS and SARAH ICDRs will also use FCI data. MTG-I2 adds redundancy for continuous observations.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 24/08/2026

How can satellite climate data help with drought monitoring? Switzerland’s national drought early warning system uses CM SAF SUMET land surface temperature data to help assess vegetation stress and drought conditions. More details in the @eumetsat.int post below.

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 20/08/2026

New research finds significant increases in UV radiation at many sites across Europe. CM SAF satellite data helped to assess the trends beyond individual stations. Featured by Tagesschau, one of Germany’s leading public-service news platforms: www.tagesschau.de/wissen/klima...

tagesschau.de

UV-Strahlung hat in Europa deutlich zugenommen

Hautkrebs ist die häufigste Krebserkrankung in Deutschland - Hauptursache ist die UV-Strahlung der Sonne. Und die hat deutschland- und europaweit in den vergangenen Jahren zugenommen, wie eine neue St...

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 11/08/2026

CLARA-A3 surface radiation does not predict El Niño itself. It helps monitor its atmospheric impacts through changes in cloudiness and surface radiation.

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 11/08/2026

Can we already see signs of a developing El Niño in CLARA-A3 radiation data? By July 2026, surface radiation anomalies show clear similarities to patterns seen during the strong 2015 El Niño, especially along the equatorial Pacific. We’ll continue to follow how this evolves.

CLARA-A3 surface radiation anomalies for May, June and July 2015 compared with the same months in 2026. By July 2026, a pronounced band of negative anomalies along the equatorial Pacific shows clear similarities to the strong 2015 El Niño pattern.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 04/08/2026

An exceptionally sunny July in western Europe: SARAH-3 data show strong positive sunshine duration anomalies across northern France, southern England and Ireland. Locally, values exceeded 250% of the long-term average, more than 2.5 times the usual July amount.

Map of relative SARAH-3 sunshine duration anomalies across Europe in July 2026, compared with the 1991–2020 average. Particularly high values are visible over northern France, southern England and Ireland, locally exceeding 250% of the long-term mean.

Full Meteosat-disk map of absolute SARAH-3 sunshine duration anomalies for July 2026, showing the deviation in sunshine hours from the 1991–2020 climate average across Europe, Africa and adjacent regions.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 14/07/2026

A solar fun fact: On 8 July, about 99% of humanity experienced daylight or twilight at the same time. How much solar radiation actually reached the surface was another matter: clouds, the atmosphere and solar elevation created a much more varied picture. Shown here with CM SAF’s global CLARA data.

Global map of the daily mean surface incoming shortwave radiation (SIS) on 8 July 2026, based on the CM SAF CLARA-A3 dataset. Colours indicate the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface.

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 13/07/2026

A complementary climatological view: CM SAF’s Sunny Days tool uses SARAH-3 solar radiation data to estimate the probability of sunny days throughout the year. For Palma de Mallorca, the chance of a 5-day sunny period peaks around the 12 August eclipse. www.cmsaf.eu/SunnyDays

Sunny Days climatology for Palma de Mallorca showing the highest probability of a five-day sunny period around 13 August.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 01/07/2026

Great news for the EUMETSAT SAF Network: CDOP-5 has been approved by the EUMETSAT Council and the contracts have been signed today. We look forward to continuing the next phase of CM SAF with our European consortium partners.

DWD President Sarah C. Jones and EUMETSAT Director-General Phil Evans shake hands after the signing related to the next CDOP phase for the EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facilities. Both are in front of EUMETSAT, CM SAF and Deutscher Wetterdienst banners.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 29/06/2026

GIRAFE combines microwave precipitation estimates from low-Earth orbiting satellites with infrared observations from the geostationary “Geo-Ring”. More details 👉 www.cmsaf.eu/EN/Highlight...

cmsaf.eu

Highlights - Release of the CM SAF GIRAFE v1 Interim Climate Data Record

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 29/06/2026

The ICDR enables short-latency global precipitation monitoring, with daily and monthly estimates at 1° resolution and updates within three months. 👉 doi.org/10.5676/EUM_...

doi.org

CM SAF WUI: Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 29/06/2026

New CM SAF data release: GIRAFE v1 ICDR extends the global precipitation Climate Data Record beyond 2002-2022.

Monthly precipitation anomaly observed by GIRAFE v1 for May 2026: deviation of May 2026 precipitation from the average May precipitation in the years 2002-2020.

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These plots are meant as visual door-openers. They do not replace detailed scientific analysis and they are not designed for reading exact anomaly values. But they help make long-term variability and change visible at a glance.

☀️ Germany SARAH-3 SIS, 1983-2025 Surface incoming shortwave radiation shows more frequent positive anomalies in recent years, relevant for climate monitoring and solar energy applications. Color scale: blue to red.

**Germany, SARAH-3 SIS, 1983–2025**
Stripe plot showing annual anomalies of surface incoming shortwave radiation over Germany from 1983 to 2025, based on the CM SAF SARAH-3 data record. Each vertical stripe represents one year. Blue colours indicate years with below-average solar radiation, while red colours indicate years with above-average solar radiation. The plot shows more frequent positive anomalies in recent years.

🌤️ United Kingdom SARAH-3 SDU, 1983-2025 Sunshine duration anomalies provide useful context for recent warm, sunny and dry periods, including years with notable heatwaves. Color scale: grey to yellow.

**United Kingdom, SARAH-3 SDU, 1983–2025**
Stripe plot showing annual anomalies of sunshine duration over the United Kingdom from 1983 to 2025, based on the CM SAF SARAH-3 data record. Each vertical stripe represents one year. Grey colours indicate years with below-average sunshine duration, while yellow colours indicate years with above-average sunshine duration. Several recent years stand out as sunnier than the long-term average.

☁️ Spain CLARA-A3 CFC, 1979-2025 Cloud fractional cover is one part of the wider climate and water-cycle puzzle, especially in regions affected by severe rainfall and flooding events. Color scale: brown to green.

$**Spain, CLARA-A3 CFC, 1979–2025** Stripe plot showing annual anomalies of cloud fractional cover over Spain from 1979 to 2025, based on the CM SAF CLARA-A3 data record. Each vertical stripe represents one year. Brown colours indicate years with below-average cloud cover, while green colours indicate years with above-average cloud cover. The plot visualises long-term variability in cloud cover as part of the wider climate and water-cycle context.$

And there is more to come: CM SAF is preparing the release of the GIRAFE ICDR, a new short-latency extension of the CM SAF precipitation climate data record. Clouds, radiation, sunshine, precipitation: long satellite records help connect the dots.

All plots were created with the CM SAF R Toolbox, which helps users prepare, analyze and visualize CM SAF NetCDF data.

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 19/06/2026

Show your stripes, but from space. 🛰️ For #ShowYourStripes Day, we created stripe plots for three CM SAF satellite climate variables: solar radiation, sunshine duration and cloud cover. Not temperature stripes, but climate stripes.

Circular Stripe Plot for solar radiation anomalies in Germany since 1983 in reference to the mean of 1991 to 2020. Basis is the SARAH-3 climate data record.

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Congratulations to EUMETSAT on 40 years of advancing weather, climate and environmental monitoring from space! We are proud to be part of this European cooperation and look forward to continuing our joint work in support of climate services.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 10/06/2026

New on the CM SAF website: a short highlight article on our contribution to the European State of the Climate Report 2025. Clouds, sunshine duration, satellite-based climate data records, and a look behind the scenes of the report process. 🔗 www.cmsaf.eu/EN/Highlight...

cmsaf.eu

Highlights - CM SAF contribution to the European State of the Climate Report 2025

EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 10/06/2026

Greetings from Norrköping, Sweden, where the CM SAF Steering Group met at SMHI this week. The meeting included productive discussions and key decisions on the GIRAFE ICDR and on climate anomalies & normals to support climate services in @eumetsat.int member states. Thanks to SMHI for hosting us!

Group photo of the SG-meeting participants in front of the SMHI entrance.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 20/05/2026

Greetings from Utrecht, where the CM SAF consortium is meeting for this year’s in-person International Board Meeting. A valuable opportunity to discuss current activities, future plans and collaboration across our European partner network. Many thanks to @knmi.nl for hosting us!

Group photo of CM SAF consortium representatives attending the annual International Board Meeting in Utrecht. Colleagues from several partner institutions are pictured together; the CNRS representative is not present in the photo.

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EUMETSAT CM SAF @cm-saf.eumetsat.int · 15/05/2026

Nice to see SARAH-3 sunshine duration data from CM SAF featured in #ESOTC2025. Long-term satellite-based climate data records help to put recent sunshine and cloudiness patterns into climate context.